JOHN J. GILES: OBITUARY

Born: March 24, 1964

Called Home to Be With The Lord: February 15, 2024,

John attended the Halifax Public Schools and a local 4H Club. His interests were old books, history, drawing, caring for animals and cooking. He developed culinary arts skills and worked for years in area restaurants, including Ernie's in Plymouth. In 1985 John repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation and was baptized. — See Acts 2:37-39 In early 1989, John participated on a Short-term Missions Work Team to Haiti, and experienced an excruciating headache on the plane. This condition continued, and a few months later, he fell into a life threatening coma. He was med-flighted to Boston where he underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. Unable to speak after surgery, John developed a method of communication in which he would visualize a thought, write it on an imaginary blackboard in his mind and then read it out loud. Following a lengthy recovery, he worked in the construction field, honing drywall and painting skills. He became an expert on stilts, custom plastering techniques and special finishes for cabinetry.

John would tell you himself that for an extended period, he experienced a time away from Christian fellowship, much like the prodigal son in the gospel account of Luke 15:11-32. Happily, in 2022 he returned to fellowship, became a member of Grace Bible Church and was a blessing to the church family there. His favorite hymn was "I Love to Tell the Story." In March 2023, a large tumor in his leg was diagnosed as a rare cancer. Two consecutive extensive surgeries removed the cancer and saved his leg. During in-hospital radiation and chemo-therapy treatments, John memorized the first three chapters of Paul's epistle to the Christians in Rome. An arduous recovery

ensued, and through rigorous therapy, finally his walking ability was restored. In September, his medical scans revealed that this rare cancer had metastasized to his lungs. When the Lord called him home, it was by the providence of God that his loved ones were by his side. One of John's favorite passages of Scripture comes from that epistle: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." — Romans, chapter 1, verses 16-17 Second to that is a Scripture passage from the gospel account of John. "He (Jesus) came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of

the will of man, but of God." — John, chapter 1, verses 11-13

He is survived by his brother Justin ("Jake") of Brockton, sister Robin Allen of

Pembroke, and numerous other siblings and relatives.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Bible Church

(address below).

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to John's funeral costs. A fund

for that has been set up at Grace Bible Church, 234 Central St., East

Bridgewater, MA, 02333, (508)378-3786. Checks should be payable to Grace

Bible Church and marked on the memo line "Benevolent Fund for John G."

Note: Overflow parking is available in the school parking lot across the street

on the other side of the common.